So what’s all this Twitter about? What’s the point? Why should I get involved?
All very worthy and just questions from our client base. This particular blog entry is not here to convince you to get involved, nor is it biased to one social networking site above another. These are merely our thoughts and experiences with the, now 5 year old, networking site. We are asked about Twitter a lot, so here’s our take, our thoughts and hopefully some informative text to fill your coffee break.
Overview
Twitter is a social networking site; it wants you to tell its users what you are doing in 140 characters or less. Simple. The simplest form of social networking. A little snapshot of what you are doing at any one point in your day. Well that’s the selling points, but as we know and you Twitter users know, it can be much more than that.
Jargon
Here’s our attempt at translating Twitters Jargon for the non-user:
- Tweet: 1 use of twitter in 140 characters or less
- @ : Precedes a username of a twitter account when commenting upon them
- # (hash tag) : Used before a topic, thus allowing other Tweeters to search and find the same topics
- Followers: People who find you interesting enough to want to know what you tweet
- Timeline: People whom you follow have a timeline of tweets; the more you follow the longer your timeline will be.
- Direct Messages: private messages between twitter members, but you must be followed by the person you want to direct message.
- Trending Topics: the most popular topics being tweeted by Twitter members
- Retweet: someone has put your tweet back on twitter for their followers to see
- Shortened URL: a programme has shortened a website domain you have added to your tweet
- Yfrog / Plixi / Twitpic /Tumblr: Someone has uploaded a picture to their tweet
- Lists: You can make a list of the people you find interesting
“@JoeBloggs Yes that dress was huge #bigfatgypsywedding #bfgw”
Here you are talking/commenting to JoeBloggs about the TV show Big Fat Gypsy Wedding
“@JoeBloggs @JoeBloggs2 http://plixi.com/rhz2 here she is”
Here you are having a 3 way conversation with JoeBloggs and JoeBloggs2 and you have uploaded a picture to show them
“RT @joebloggs @you you are so funny”
Here you have retweeted JoeBloggs comment about how funny you are
OK, got it? So what’s the point?
Twitter is being used by a huge cross section of society for many different purposes:
- Socially, we believe the saying is “Facebook is for friends, twitter is for people you are yet to meet” and socially speaking we second that.
- Business Networking. Finding and making contact with current and potential clients
- Communication in groups, using twitter to keep in touch with friend, clients, families or be part of an online group
- Being Nosey. Many celebrities use twitter from Stephen Fry to that bloke you half recognise off of the tele..! Twitter can give a very sneaky peak into their world.
- Community building and help groups. Using the hash tag can bring people together in groups on twitter whether fellow followers of a football team or members of a dieting club, using the hash tag can find people going through the same problems as you
- Portfolio, showing people what you do, can generate interest too.
- Spamming, sadly spamming does occur on Twitter. As with every media there are people who will take advantage of a situation, such spammers can be blocked or reported.
How do you engage with people?
The Twitter search function allows a user to find other people based on a common theme or interest between them. For example we like Rock Music, a simple search on rock music will show people who have tweeted about the topic, have lists on the topic and people who have it in their name. Drop a search in with a hash tag, i.e. #rockmusic and even more will show. From here you can engage with a person about a tweet, follow them and so the Twitter link begins.
On the go
Twitter can be used “on the go”; many mobile phones have twitter applications, allowing you to fill your timeline whenever and wherever you wish. Other applications both mobile and PC based allow you to tweet through them, for example Spotify will let your followers know what song you are listening to, if you let it. There are also many online applications you can allow into your twitter life, they measure your “Klout”, who has unfollowed you and much more. This is where Twitter becomes more than just 140 characters of what you are doing.
Security
Yes, Twitter has some security issues but in our view these are mainly down to the users themselves. As with any networking site, particularly Facebook, only give out the information you want people to know. As with emails, if you don’t like the look of it or you don’t know who has sent it.... don’t click on it!
How does Twitter fit into a business environment?
If you decide Twitter is a good platform for your business it should sit with your marketing team/person, they can utilise its functions to talk about your products, services, show off examples and bleat about a good testimonial.
Using Twitter as a marketing tool
Twitter is another tool to communicate your company, product or service. So use it as just that, say what you need to say, show people your Twitter timeline on your website and let people know you exist. More importantly for your web presence, Twitter can generate links back to your websites, thus increasing traffic volume and placing a tick in the search engine optimisation box.
Why the marketing person?
We believe it should be developed by a marketer for one simple reason, it needs to reflect your corporate identity, the core morals and beliefs your business stands by. Those behaviours and communications that sit within your marketing department, they manage how your company is perceived; they communicate, design and behave with your brand/company. So why let an I.T person, delivery driver or production manager say what they think on a tweet, which could potentially reach thousands or more... and more than likely, won’t be a message you wish to convey.
Our Experience
Well hands up, we’ve made some mistakes on Twitter, lost followers and been spammed. Our mistakes include mentioning how poor the Glastonbury line up was, only for people to jump down our throats. We’ve added too many websites and projects and people have become bored of our topics. We’ve mentioned the name of a famous celebrity or brand and been spammed with strange looking links. We’ve even insulted a celebrity without realising our comment could be taken in that way.
However, we’ve done some good things with Twitter and they outweigh the bad. We’ve generated clients and web design work. We’ve helped out people with various different requests. We’ve made some good friends and met some interesting people. We’ve increased our web design network and found some talented designers to help us out when it’s all a bit hectic. We’ve found people new employees. We’ve bought from other firms we found on Twitter and more importantly didn’t know they existed. We’ve... Well you get the idea; we’ve done a lot in our 3 years of Twitter.
General do’s and don’ts for companies AND individuals
Based on mistakes we have seen or heard about...
DO’s
- Do speak to people, say hello, and reply to their tweet, what’s the harm?
- Do search for people as interesting as yourself
- Do engage with people, relationships can become fruitful
- Do download a twitter application, we recommend Tweetdeck but there are plenty of other apps for your pc, mac and mobile device out there
- Do check a followers timeline and profile before following back
- Don’t spam, you can tell people about your product but don’t shove it in their face..!
- Don’t spam, yes it says that above, but a different spam. Just because someone follows you it doesn’t mean they want your message sent to them as a direct message, let’s not get peoples backs up.. play fair
- Don’t argue, what’s the point? We are here to get along and when the dust settles was it really worth it (Google Ed Byrne and Keith Chegwin on Twitter....)
- Don’t pick a fight, yes similar to the point above but this is about weight, just ask @brumplum about @stephenfry, if you upset a celebrity with over 1,000,000 followers you will get some abuse.
IN CONCLUSION
It’s difficult to admit but as website designers we were a little sceptical 3 years ago before we joined Twitter but now it is utilised by One stop Web Designers for more than just Business Networking, we’ve gained friends and influenced people. Twitter is not the answer for a failing business nor should it be seen to be. Within a business environment and with a lot of time, effort and love Twitter can be a powerful tool in your armoury. To rely on it for all your marketing needs would be naive, to pull it into your marketing mix can enhance your profile, use it incorrectly at your peril.
Written by Steve Corbett from One Stop Web Designers.
